April Showers, Bring May Flowers

Only it isn't April showers, it is June showers. And the flowers don't come a month later, they are in bloom them. But saying that June Showers, tsuyu, bring June Flowers just doesn't sound as good...

But the flower in question is the hydrangea. In Japanese it is called ajisai. It is kind of a big deal about this time of year. As there are temples that revolve around cherry blossom season and their sakura trees, as there are temples with tons of Japanese maple trees and this beautiful fall foliage, there are a few, temples dedicated to the beautiful blossoming of hydrangea flowers. The temples for hydrangeas are definitely a minority as far as themes go for temples.

Also it is oddly more popular to see in the rain. You would think that all the Japanese ladies in the finery would want to stay inside and do their nails or something, but you will see all sorts umbrella-ed out at these temples on a nice rainy day. They think that the rain is the best natural way to view the hydrangeas and that it brings out their very best colors.
And what is more special than sharing this very wet moment of color with your sweetheart? It is finding the blossom that is heart-shaped. Apparently they are rather rare and considered to be pretty special.
Another thing to look for are snails. I am not sure why, but people will constantly draw pictures of hydrangeas and snails together. Perhaps they are a good combination or they both thrive in the rain. Either way, once a snail is spotted people will crowd it trying to take just the right picture of the spirit of the season.